On 25 May 2001 ICANN formally entered into new agreements
under which the Internet's .com, .net, and .org domains
will be operated for the next several years.
The VeriSign, Inc. will give up control over the .org registry
by the end of 2002.

Resolved [01.71] that the Board refers to the Names Council
for its consideration the issues raised by the scheduled
transition of the operation of the .org top-level domain from
VeriSign to a new entity, including at least:
(a) whether to select an existing entity to succeed VeriSign
as responsible for operation of the .org TLD, or to
establish a new entity;
(b) the characteristics of the entity to be selected or established;
(c) selection criteria for the entity or its organizers;
(d) principles governing its relationship with ICANN
(sponsored or unsponsored TLD, term of operation, etc.); and
(e) policies for the entity's operation of the .org top-level
domain (to the extent they are not to be established by the entity).
Further resolved [01.72] that the Names Council is requested
to provide a report on its progress on the issues referred by
resolution 01.71, including any policy recommendations it has
developed, no later than 12 October 2001; and
Further resolved [01.73] that the report will then be posted
for public comment in advance of ICANN's third annual meeting
in November 2001.

Board resolution 01.71 became the terms of reference for the dot org task force.